The inaugural class of selected creators will participate in an 8-week program featuring elements of content strategy and fact-checking training led by media professionals and experts.
September 10th, 2025 — Today, News Creator Corps (NCC) launched the application for its pilot program, an 8-week fellowship that will train content creators in fact checking and sourcing tools typically learned in a newsroom. The program is designed to give the digital age of newsmakers access to training and support to ensure they are sharing accurate information and debunking misinformation. The first cohort will consist of independent creators who have built a platform by providing a service to their community, from sharing restaurant openings and disseminating public health information, to moderating parenting discussions and uplifting other local news stories.
Access to good information is more critical than ever. More than 3,500 local news outlets have closed in the last 20 years, and legacy media is under attack. There are a host of questions that keep people up at night – like how to afford groceries, how to care for aging loved ones, and how to apply for their preferred school district – that cannot go unaddressed. People still need information, even if they’re news-avoidant. NCC is designed to help content creators meet this need.
The 2025 pilot program will include deep dives on content strategy, productivity tools, and audience engagement, in combination with skill building on tactics typically honed in newsrooms such as fact checking, legal document analysis, and interviewing, led by media professionals and journalism experts. The classes are designed to ensure content creators and trusted community messengers have the essential tools to better report facts, debunk misinformation, and empower their audiences with trustworthy content, making social platforms safer.
“More Americans get their news from social media than ever before, and content creators are a vital part of the information economy,” said Rachel Lobdell, Executive Director of News Creator Corps. “It’s not useful to chastise audiences for getting their news from TikTok. We can have a much larger impact on the fight against misinformation by helping these creators flood social platforms with accuracy and truth. By investing in these information sharers, we can make social platforms safer for all. They’ve earned their audiences trust, the value of which cannot be understated in the current media landscape.”
The cohort will meet virtually once a week for eight weeks, from October 14 to December 12, with a weekly posting assignment involving citing sources, engaging with their audience, and collaborating with NCC’s publishing partners to expand reach and profile. Class participants will have access to lively discussion forums with program directors and colleagues to brainstorm ideas, troubleshoot questions, and build community. Creators chosen for this cohort will receive a $5,000 stipend and will be eligible for additional compensation through paid collaborations with NCC’s news organization, nonprofit, and public relations partners.
Applications to the News Creator Corps 2025 cohort are due at 11:59 p.m. ET on September 28.
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About News Creator Corps
News Creator Corps is a movement to ensure everyone has access to accurate and trustworthy information. We invest in content creators and community messengers so they can better share facts, debunk misinformation, and empower their audiences with information.